The Model Input Hierarchy: Prioritizing Overlapping Inputs

OpenAg allows for inputs that can overlap each other, such as setting irrigation water availability for all regions and setting the same value for a specific region. In each case, only a single parameter will apply - no merging is done between overlapping parameters, and the model applies the most specific input parameters and discards less specific parameters.

Note

It is important to note that, while the web interface makes it appear as if one set of settings can apply across the whole model, OpenAg applies parameters individually to each crop and region combination present in a model area. The web interface simply provides a way to apply settings quickly across the whole model. A single value will always apply for each parameter for each region/crop combination, though they can have the same value.

Priority Orders

For each list below, the items are ordered from highest to lowest priotrity.

Region Modification Hierarchy

1. No Production regions:

   Regions that are set to “No Production” override all other settings that would apply to that region, including settings from crop cards. OpenAg drops the data for No Productions regions before running the model and the data for a removed region is not included in the model run.

2. Specific region settings:

   Input parameters on a specific region are the highest priority way to specific a single input, such as irrigation water availability. If the region is not set to No Production and a value is set on a specific region modification card, then that value will apply. Regions set to use Simple modeling will apply values differently than regions using the Full model.

3. Region group settings (when available):

   If region groups are available, then parameters provided for a region group will apply for all regions within the region group unless a card is added to the model run for a region within the group, in which case the region-specific card’s settings would take precedence for that region, with the region group card applying to all remaining regions in the group.

4. All Regions:

   The All Regions card is the fallback card - it applies when a more specific setting from the items above has not been provided.

Crop Modification Hierarchy

1. Region-linked crop value:

   Specific crop cards that have been linked to a single region take the highest priority for crop parameters and will be used when present.

2. Specific crop value:

   Similar to region cards, a modification card for a single crop is used for crop parameters in each region the crop is present in, except in the case where a region-linked crop card is present for the same crop, in which case the region-linked crop card would supply the parameters for that single crop and region and the crop-specific card without a region-link would supply the parameters for the crop in all other regions it is present within.

3. All Crops:

   The All Crops card is the fallback card - it applies when a more specific setting from the items above has not been provided.

Warning

Crop adjustments never apply to regions that are set to “No Production”. These regions are not modeled directly and so will not include crop modifications, regardless of region-linking.